Beauty  

How hair manufacturing can boost Nigeria’s economy

By Bessie Odu

26 March 2025   |   5:02 am

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It’s no news anymore that for many years now, Nigeria has remained one of the largest markets for human hair extensions and wigs. Yes, despite our high demand for these products, we still continue to depend on importing them from foreign countries, spending several millions of naira doing so. This dependence on foreign hair products…

It’s no news anymore that for many years now, Nigeria has remained one of the largest markets for human hair extensions and wigs. Yes, despite our high demand for these products, we still continue to depend on importing them from foreign countries, spending several millions of naira doing so. This dependence on foreign hair products has continued to drain our economy further and has limited opportunities for creation of jobs in this field. It’s high time we had a rethink of our approach and focus on how we can grow our own hair manufacturing industry that will serve us all.

Building a strong hair manufacturing sector goes beyond business alone, it is also an avenue to increasing economic growth. When we establish production facilities in Nigerians, what happens as a result? We create job opportunities across the various industries involved in the process! Right from the industries involved in the sourcing the raw materials to the industries involved in factory operations and retailing. Absolutely everyone involved, from the stylists to business owners would benefit from this ensuring that the money generated in the process is circulated and remains with the country. This will no doubt contribute to our economic growth and development.

Furthermore, when we manufacture hair products domestically, we can be certain of quality control. Don’t you think? No more or rather less cases of inferior quality hair products would be prevalent anymore. Many wigs and hair extensions are super costly and yet still fail to meet the unique needs of Africans. By producing these things locally, we can ensure that we create products that suit our unique climate, preferences and durability expectations. Not only will this satisfy demand, it will also position our beloved country as a leading supplier to other African and global markets.

Another important thing to consider is the fact that the high rise in dollar to naira rates has made it such that importation of products now is super expensive. By reducing our dependence on foreign countries for their supply of products, we can then begin to stabilize prices, improve easy accessibility of products and make our own high quality hair products affordable for many Nigerians.

Research would show you that countries like South Korea and Brazil have already built billion dollar industries from hair manufacturing. Nothing is stopping Nigeria from doing so as well. With the right attention to this matter, considerable investment and support of policy, Nigeria would indeed have the potential and capability to do the same. We have the talent, the demand and the God given resources to do so. The missing element? Our commitment to building this industry from within.

Nigeria as a whole, must move from being just a consumer to being a producer. Making this shift would indeed make Nigeria rich and its people as a result. The future of our economy can be impacted by the choices we make regarding our hair industry today.

Bessie Odu is a hair manufacturing expert, founder of Flair Hair Academy, and a pioneer in Nigeria’s human hair production industry. With a background in Microbiology and an MBA in Healthcare Management, she has complemented her business expertise with certifications from ITEC (UK) in Wig Making and specialized training from John Korea Hair School in South Korea. She is also an alumna of the Enterprise Development Center at Pan-African University, Lagos.